I cough out a laugh. “Yeah, no. Just leave him to me. Anyway, you two are going to have to get along better now.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. My BFF cannot hate my husband.”
“So long as he treats you right. That’ll go a long way to earning my forgiveness.”
“Forgiveness for what?”
His lips quirk. “Existing.”
I shove his arm. “Don’t be a jerkface.”
A hand slides around my waist. I’m dragged, promptly, against a very lean, very muscled side, and a soft rumble inquires, “Who’s a jerkface,pchelka?”
Shay pshaws. “I’m going.”
“Wait—home? Or Poughkeepsie?”
“Home first. Kat needs my help.”
“Oh, she does, does she?” I waggle my eyebrows at him just to watch him blush.
“Shut up. She’s working on that family tree project Mrs. Bavaro sets in school.”
I mock-retch. “I hated that project.”AndMrs. Bavaro.
“You went to the same school?” Maxim asks.
“Yeah. It’s this private educational stronghold where kids of the Irish Mob rub shoulders with politicians.”
“To be fair,” Shay points out, “the politicians are more corrupt.”
I clap my hands in agreement but change the subject. “Why does she need help?”
“You know how convoluted her past is. Plus, what she found… she doesn’t want to talk to Star about it. Says it’ll rake up shit, and she’s not wrong. Anyway, you want me to run interference with the ancient ones?”
“Yeah, just for tonight.”
“Sure. Will I lose my hand if I try to hug you?”
“No. He won’t, will he, Maxim?”
Maxim grunts but detaches himself from me.
“Just be happy,” Shay orders.
“I will.” I whisper the words in his ear as I squeeze him tightly. I dot a kiss on his cheek. “You’re allowed to be happy too.”
“You know how it feels when what you want the most is impossible.” He releases me and sticks out his hand for Maxim. “I look forward to getting to know you better.”
I squeal. “My two favorite boys are playing nice!”
Maxim grunts but Shay gags before making his departure, yelling, “You had to make it weird!”
Cackling, I watch him stride over the sidewalk to his baby and wave before he jumps behind the wheel.
Retreating a step, I bump right into Maxim, who, with minimal maneuvering, shuts the door. When his arms slide around my waist, I sigh, relieved that he takes my weight.
